Catherine the Great's marriage, which took place in 1745, was arranged by Empress Elizabeth for her son, Peter, and was expected to produce an heir to the throne of the Russian Empire. Catherine's marriage did produce an heir, but her marriage to Peter could not last. Catherine made herself Empress and Peter was disposed of.
Catherine the Great's Engagement
Catherine travel to St. Petersburg with her mother to meet Empress Elizabeth in 1744. Before becoming engaged to Peter, Catherine first had to win approval of Empress Elizabeth, whose main objective was to find a mother for Peter's future children. Catherine was only 14 years old at the time, but she celebrated her next birthday while at the Russian Court.
Before Catherine's engagement to Peter could take place, she was first required to convert from Lutheranism to Orthodoxy. This ceremony officially bestowed upon her the name of Catherine, or Ekaterina. While at Court, Catherine also had to perfect her Russian language skills, learn to dance, and become familiar with how to properly navigate Court life, which was wrought with intrigue and politics.
Catherine the Great's Marriage to Peter
The wedding ceremony took place in August in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Catherine's confusion about what was supposed to occur on her wedding night set the tone for her relationship with Peter. The young couple had one major task - to produce an heir. Unfortunately, Catherine and Peter had trouble consummating their marriage, both on the wedding night and for long after.
Empress Elizabeth was unhappy with the situation. Each month that passed without sign of Catherine being pregnant created more stress upon the royal couple to conceive - or at least it created more stress upon Catherine. Peter was uninterested. A man whose mind was in many ways childlike, his fascination with play military pursuits precluded everything.
Catherine Produces an Heir
Catherine finally became pregnant, but at this time she was also involved with her first lover, Sergei Saltykov. Catherine's first pregnancies ended in miscarriage. In 1754, she gave birth to a son name Paul. It is unclear who Paul's father was, though evidence suggests that he more closely resembled Peter than he did Sergei Saltykov. Nevertheless, Catherine produced an heir.
Catherine Becomes Empress
When Empress Elizabeth died in 1762, Peter was quick to ascend the throne of the Russian Empire. Catherine was swift to take action. With the help of supporters, she assumed the title and became Empress of All the Russias, Peter was forced to abdicate, and Catherine had him held under guard until his death. Catherine the Great's marriage lasted 18 years.
Sources:
Dixon, Simon. Catherine the Great. London: Profile Books, 2009.
Rounding, Virginia. Catherine the Great: Love, Sex, and Power. London: Hutchinson, 2006.
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